A loss of a loved one is tough. We know its coming and that no one makes it out alive, but we are always so surprised never feeling quite ready. Last weekend my grandpa passed away, He was my dad's dad. He was my last grandparent, his wife passed away three years ago, and my mom's parents passed away last winter. I guess I'm trying to work through some of this by writing, but it's still hard. It is hard losing them, but I'm so lucky to have had them in my life as long as I did, 30-33 years with all my grandparents. That is indeed a blessing. 

Anyways, I was struggling with all this pretty bad yesterday. After everyone left the office, I just found myself staring at the computer screen not doing anything. For a moment I snapped out of it and realized how late it had gotten. The weather was supposed to roll in early, but it hadn't yet, the sky was still cloudless, and the sun was shining. I thought maybe a beautiful thing to do would be to watch the sunset and reflect and my grandparents. 

I quickly went home and grabbed my camera and headed out to Fern Ridge Reservoir. My grandparents used to have a sailboat and I have memories as a kid going out to Fern Ridge to ride on it. I found a small little park on the east side of the lake and made my way.

The park was gated off, and no one was around. The sun quickly began to fall over the mountains to the west. The lake and reeds in front of me started to glow and mirror the color in the sky. After the sun was over the horizon, the sky light up in shades of orange, red, pink and purple that I have only seen a few times before. To be all alone on this little muddy beach watching the sky explode with color was incredibly unique. It was as if they were all there saying goodbye. I know that's a little silly, but that's what I'm choosing to believe.